These easy Christmas candy recipes make the perfect addition to any cookie tray or holiday gift basket! Break free from the traditional Christmas cookie and try one of these simple candy recipes.
It’s the time of year everyone gets out their baking supplies, cookie cutters, and rolling pins.
But often overlooked are Christmas candies! Maybe the thought of making homemade candy is intimidating, but there is no candy thermometer or fancy supplies needed to make these easy holiday recipes.
These candies are a perfect addition to a cookie tray, can be wrapped up in a cute tin or cellophane to give as gifts, and are a delicious change-up to the traditional sugar cookies and raspberry thumbprints.
The recipes listed below are SO easy, literally anyone with a microwave, oven and/or stove can do them. It made all three during nap time one day (YES, they are THAT quick!!) and stored them away in the freezer for safe-keeping. When it comes time to deliver my cookie trays to friends, family and neighbors, I’ll throw a couple of each kind onto the tray to give it a little extra oomph.
I will link all of the recipes at the bottom of this post, so feel free to scroll to the bottom to get the full recipes!
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Chocolate Butterscotch Peanut Clusters
These were always my favorite growing up! I would get so excited when my mom would come home with the butterscotch chips and cocktail peanuts.
Chocolate butterscotch clusters are great because you are only using a saucepan on the stove and a lined cookie sheet to drop them onto. It’s as simple as melting the chocolate and butterscotch, stirring in the peanuts, and dropping them onto the cookie sheet.
I throw them into a freezer bag when they’re hardened and they keep beautifully until I’m ready for them! I’ve never met someone who didn’t LOVE this delicious candy.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
This one is so easy it hurts! It’s perfect if you are more of a microwave kind of person. You could make this out of a dorm room…seriously!
Dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, candy canes and peppermint extract come together to make a crunchy, minty chocolate bark. It’s so pretty when wrapped up in cellophane and placed among your holiday cookies! I love the layered look — it’s has a very fancy flair while still being one of the simplest things I make.
If you’re adding this to a cookie platter, I definitely recommend placing it in a treat bag first. Peppermint is a very strong flavor, and you don’t want it to transfer to your other cookies.
Saltine Cracker Toffee
The Chocolate Butterscotch Peanut Clusters may have been my favorite as a child, but my current favorite is this recipe for Saltine Cracker Toffee!
It’s everything you want in a treat. It’s caramel-y, chocolate-y, salty, crunchy, gooey…ugh, I’m drooling! I always make a double batch of these and I never have leftovers.
These are fun because you can customize them however you want! Top them with festive sprinkles, coconut, more chocolate, toffee bits, nuts, colorful candies, M&Ms…get creative and do whatever you want! Personally, I love them plain or with a sprinkle of toffee bits on top. Yum!
These recipes are staples to my holiday baking list. I am a dedicated chocolate lover, and look forward to making these every year! I always get asked for my recipes on these three candies, and it’s almost embarrassing how easy they are! Your family and friends are sure to love them!
Let me know if you give them a try! Comment below to let me know your favorite holiday candy recipe!
Chocolate Butterscotch Peanut Clusters
You'll love how easy it is to make these peanut clusters! The nutty and chocolatey flavors come together beautifully in this simple holiday recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 12oz bag milk chocolate chips
- 1 12oz bag butterscotch chips
- 4 cups cocktail peanuts
Instructions
Melt chocolate and butterscotch in a sauce pan on low heat or over a double boiler.
Once chips are melted and smooth, stir cocktail peanuts into the sauce pan.
Spoon by rounded tablespoon onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow to cool and chocolate to harden.
Notes
Makes 3-4 dozen, depending on size of your clusters.
I recommend using lightly salted peanuts, or even a blend of salted with unsalted peanuts. Alternatively, you can use unsalted peanuts and top with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Nutrition Information
Yield
36Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 139Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 2mgSodium 16mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 0gSugar 13gProtein 1g
Nutritional facts are approximate and based off of 3 dozen candies made. Your batch may yield more or less candies depending on the size of your clusters.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
This easy peppermint bark is a great addition to any cookie tray or Holiday gift basket. It requires only a few ingredients and is very fast to put together!
Ingredients
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
- 2.5 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- about 3-4 crushed candy canes to top (or more to your preference)
Instructions
Line a rimmed cookie sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.
Melt dark chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in-between, until chocolate is smooth. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Add peppermint extract to melted chocolate and stir. Pour over the foil and spread to each corner. Allow to cool and harden.
Melt white chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in-between, until chocolate is smooth. Pour over cooled and hardened dark chocolate and spread to cover.
Top with crushed candy canes while chocolate is still melted and allow to harden. Break apart by hand or with a knife.
Notes
This recipe makes 8-12 servings, depending on how large you cut the bark.
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 433Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 14gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 12mgSodium 48mgCarbohydrates 51gFiber 2gSugar 44gProtein 4g
Nutrition values are approximate.
Christmas Cracker Toffee
This Christmas Cracker Toffee is terribly addicting! This simple recipe is always a hit at the holidays.
Ingredients
- about 30 saltine crackers, enough to line your cookie sheet
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- sprinkles, nuts, or coconut to top (optional)
Instructions
1. Cover a cookie sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil. Be sure to use a cookie sheet that has sides, not one that is flat. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in a single layer.
3. In a saucepan, melt butter and sugar together over medium heat. Allow to come to a boil and set a timer for 5 minutes. Stir constantly.
4. Pour over the saltine crackers and spread to cover each cracker.
5. Place in the oven. Cook until it starts to bubble, at least 5 minutes, and then remove from the oven.
6. Pour chocolate chips over the top and let them melt for about 1 minute. Once softened, spread to each corner. Sprinkle any additional toppings over crackers, if desired. Place in refrigerator until chocolate hardens and the crackers are cooled. Crack or cut into pieces.
Nutrition Information
Yield
25Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 204Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 20mgSodium 112mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 1gSugar 17gProtein 1g
Nutrition facts are approximate.